Finger-manipulator.



Patented Dec. !2, 1899..

No. &39,073.

M. LYONS.

FINGER MANIPULATUR.

[Application filed Nov. 5, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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nail of each finger.

Nrrn STATES PATENT OFFICE MARY LYONS, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

FlNGER-MANIPULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patents No. 639,0'73, dated December 12, 1899. Application filed November 5, 1898. Serial No. 695,54=8. (No model.)

TO (all whom it may cmccrn:

i Be it known that 1, MARY LYONS, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvemcnts in Finger Massageor Manipulators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvcntion,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention contenplates certain new and useful improvements in finger-massage or finger-manipulators.

It is well known among those advanced in the study and practice of massage that the proper treatment or manicuring of the (ingernails is to massage the flesh surrounding the In thisway the cuticle is maintained in its proper position, and to it health and vigor are added. The evil consequence of cutting the cuticle, as ordinarily practiced in manicuring, is avoided.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple mechanical device by means of which the several fingersof a hand may be treated with results practically the same as when they are subjected to `massage treatment.

This I accomplishby providing a mechanical `device for acting on the cuticle of each finger when successively noved back and forth. The device may be stationary and the finger moved against it or the finger held still while the device is reciprocated back and forth.

One form of enbodinent of my invention comprises a thimble-like receptacle which will impinge each of the several fingers inserted thereinto in a manner practically analogous to massage by hand. Within this receptacle is a lining of chamois or the like, and between this and the upper portion of the receptacle is a spring-plate, which causes the linin g to protrude, so as to bear against the cuticle of a finger and by a reciprocating move- "ment force the latter back off the nail into a view in perspective, showing one form of my improvements attached to a stand or table. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View on line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a .cross-sectional View on line 3 3, Fig., 2. Fig.

4 is a rear end View. Fig. 5 is a top plan View. Figs. 6 and !show a different form of my invention, Fig. (i being a perspective and Fig. 7 a central longitndinal sectional View thereof.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a cone-lik'e receptacle consisting of two curved plates having inner concavities practically in the form of a thinble. It is divided longitudinally into two parts a a', which at the contracted end of the receptacle are united by a spring-hinge a This hinge tends to normally hold the two parts together, leaving between them a narrow space, not suf cient to admit the small finger of a persons hand without spreading the two parts of the receptacle.

The receptacle is provided with a lining B, of chamois or other suitable material, which is of such quantity as to allow of the full spreading of the parts. When said parts are spread-that is, separated by being moved on their hinge--the inserted finger will be tightly grasped, the spring of thehinge tending to hold` the parts tight against the finger and entirely surround the nail. Between the. top of the lining and the roof of the recepta cle is a plate-spring b, which ca'uses the 1ining to project inwardly and forces it against the users nail, acting as a pusher, so to speak, for the cuticle. The continuous insertion and withdrawal of a finger for a few moments will impart to the finger practically the same result as that consequent upon massage treatment, and the cuticle will be pushed back off the nail, and the finger and nail Will be rendered healthy and vigorous. On the exterior of the receptacle, running longitudinally thereof, are file-ridges b', for` use in filing the finger-nails,- and at the rear end of the upper part is a fiange 6 which is curved and formed with a blunt edge. The purpose of this blunt-edged flange is to treat the epidermis so as to prevent it from adhering to the nail, as frequently occurs, around the outer end of the latter. By thus treating the epidermis what is known as ag-nails is successfully avoided-that is, the skin or 'epidermis and nail are prevented from becoming one, so to speak.

For convenience in use I mount the fingerreceptacle A upon a short upright bar C, which at its lower end is Secured to a clamp D, which may be firnly attached to the edge of a stand or table, as shown in Fig. 1. When the device is thus positioned, any person can quickly and easily subject the several fingers of the two hands to the described treatment. The rapid inserion` and' withdrawal of each finger-say five or six times-will s'uffice for each treatment.

Another form of embodiment of my invention is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the same conprising a curved plate E, similar to the upper half' of a thimble divided longitudinally, a lining d, an interposed spring-plate (W, and a handle d By moving this device back and forth` longitudinally over a finger-nail against the cuticle the latter will be treated with the same results hereinbefore described. When this form is used, the finger may be placed on a rest e and the device may be moved by grasping the handle (1 In inanicuring establishments suitable means may be employed-say electricity-forgiving the device a quick back-and-forth movement against the finger held on the rest.

The advantages of my in vention are apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim as my in vention- 1. A finger-massage device conssting of a receptacle having a concaved inner surface extended longitudinally thereol", a yielding projection within such receptacle, and a cov- 'eri'ng for said projection, as set fo-rth.

2. A finger-nassage device consisting of a receptacle having a concaved inner surface, a lining therefor a yielding plate located between said lining and said concaved surface holding a portion of said lining extended, as and for the purpose stated.

3. A finger-massage device consisting of a thinble-like receptacle having an inner lining, and a spring-plate between said lining and receptacle, as set forth.

4. A finger-massage device consisting of a thinble-like receptacle composed of separate parts pivotally united, and an inner yielding projection, as set for-th.

5. A finger-massage device consisting of a thimble-li ke receptacle composed of separate parts pivotally united, an inner spring-plate, and an inner fiexible lining, as set forth.

6. A finger-massage device consisting of' a thimble-like receptacle composed of separate parts, a hinge uniting said parts, a spring acting on said parts, and an inner' yielding projection, substantially as set forth.

7. A finger-massage device consisting of two parts, a hinge uniting said parts at one end, a spring acting on said parts, a Gone-like opening being formed between said parts, and a yielding projection within said opening, substantially as set forth.

8. A finger-massage device consisting of a receptacle for the finger, a bar supportingsaid receptacle, and a clamp to which said bar is secured, substantially as set forth.

In testimony Whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARY LYONS.

VVitnesses:

OWEN WARD, SAMUEL AMES. 

